Foundations laid for NCIMB’s move to new facility

Work got underway on a new facility for Aberdeen-based microbiology, analytical services and biological material storage company, NCIMB at the end of last year. The new bespoke facility is an exciting milestone for the company, and a pivotal step in relation to its continued growth. The move will allow NCIMB to strengthen and develop the range of essential, underpinning products and services it offers to industry and academia.

The new site, which is located at the Wellheads Industrial Estate in Aberdeen, will include a category 3 laboratory, chemical and microbiology laboratories, media preparation and sterilisation areas, cold rooms, and a molecular suite with associated offices, writing up areas and welfare spaces, and has potential for further future expansion.

NCIMB’s CEO Dr Carol Phillips said: “NCIMB’s products and services provide essential support for our customers developing new or improved microbial products, as well as for companies working in sectors where proliferation of unwanted microbes can cause major headaches. And of course, we also curate a unique collection of microorganisms with great potential as a genetic resource for industrial applications. 

“The market for microbial products is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, and we expect that this this shift towards an increasingly bio-based economy will result in more opportunities for research and development using the strains within our collection as well as increased demand for the specialist supporting services we provide, such as sequencing and characterisation of microorganisms and off-site secure storage of key research or production strains. 

Our new building will not only provide a fantastic new home for our culture collection, but will also give us the facilities and space we need to grow and develop in line with the demands of the industrial biotechnology sector.”

NCIMB plans to move during summer of 2022. Dr Phillips concluded: “2022 is the 40th anniversary of the formation of NCIMB as a limited company. Our culture collection dates back to 1950, and was originally set up as part of the UK Civil Service, however, in 1982, NCIMB became a limited company. This was uncharted territory for a UK culture collection, but the decision was taken in light of the industrial potential of both our culture collection and the services we would be able to provide. Today the UK’s Biological Resource Network includes 14 partners, and NCIMB is the only private limited company that sits within that network, so it’s great to be able to celebrate our 40th anniversary with a new bespoke facility”.